Apparatus for making articles



y 1937- J. c. FORD ET AL 2,081,533

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ARTICLES I Filed Aug. 17, 1933 5 Shets-Sheet 1 Jill/622E715: fo6gpiv 671 0 mi John/Etnarfifiam y 1937. J. c. FORD ET AL 2,081,533

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 17, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ili i |||||i "II y 3 J. c. FORD ET AL APPARATUS FOR MAKING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 17, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l-llll Ill/ Ill f e 6: J56 0rd) hm Ulaarz (Q x 7 20M 612% gph/G i1 170 E7207 May 25, 1937. J F ET AL 2,081,533

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 17, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fiaqplw C Fara? Q whiz-Mr Ulaorz y 5, 1937. J. c. FORD El AL 2,081,533

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 17, 1933 5 Shets-Sheet 5 -4 I j J 73 74 d I 17675 h:

I 4; 72 81 65 l 7 I A 75 74 60 78 76 I z a w as J 7 M 63 I q 7 I 83 JwenEra- J55e h/ (I. 0rd do/ZW Lnar' 0&5022 \lZy: X 3- m Patented May 25, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MAKING ARTICLES Application August 17, 1933, Serial No. 685,578

16 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for making seals for containers, such as bottles, from a gelatinous substance such as viscose, jelly and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for making container closures, such as sealing bands.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus which is provided with 10 means for rotating and translating a plurality of roller molds, which is provided with means for coating molds with the substance by rolling the molds thereover, which is provided with means for selectively coating the molds, which regenerates the substance on the molds to make regenerated tubes, which has stripping means for stripping the regenerated tubes from the molds and which is provided with means for accelerating or decelerating the revolubility of the molds 20 according to a predetermined arrangement.

A further object is to provide an improved apparatus composed of relatively few and simple parts timed and synchronized to perform certain steps in the manufacture of sealing bands continuously and uninterruptedly.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a se- 60 lected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows;

Fig. 1 is a detail sectional view of the improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a part of the apparatus showing the manner in which the molds are operated through several steps of the manufacturing process.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

40 Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view at the discharging end of the machine showing the stripping mechanism, the view being taken on the line 66 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a detail end elevation partly in section on the line 1----'! of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of some of the stripper mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view showing a filmed roller clamped in position prior to the stripping operation.

Fig, 1c is a detail perspective iew of a regenerated tube immediately after the stripping operation.

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of a regenerated band in its hydrated state.

Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view showing the 5 band applied to a, bottle and. in its dehydrated state.

The improved apparatus embodying the invention and herein shown for the purpose of illustration comprises a frame I having a plurality of uprights 2 and members or braces 3. Spaced endless chains 4, Fig. 1, pass over sprockets 5, 6, I, 8 and 9 which are mounted on horizontal transverse shafts 5', 6, I, 8', and 9' respectively, the shafts being journaled in suitable bearings I0. 15 Any one of the sprockets may be driven to move the chains continuously along a winding or circuitous path. The chains 4 are provided with spaced pins I I and I2, Fig. 3, which are conveniently fixed to the chains in any desirable manner, such as by the member I3, Figs. 3-5. The chains may be supported on the guides M of members l5. A plurality of roller molds I6 having shafts I'l projecting from the ends I8 of the molds are arranged between the pins I I and I2 and are translated by the chains. The rollers I6 are rotated during translation by the engagement of either the exterior surfaces I9 of the molds or the exterior surfaces of the shafts I! with the rails 2| and 22 respectively. The rollers or molds I6 are carried over the pulleys 5 and deposited on the rails 22 and are translated along the rails 22 and as their shafts I! are in engagement with the rails 22, the molds or rollers I6 are given revoluble movement. The upper edges of these rails may be knurled to cause positive rolling action of the roller molds I6 when they are being translated by the chains across the rails. The rails 22 are cut away, as indicated at 23, to provide inclined surfaces 24 which allow the roller molds I6 to roll on their peripheral surfaces I9 on the rails 2| as they are translated over a container 25 containing substance 26. Due to the fact that the peripheral surfaces I9 of the rollers are greater than the peripheral surfaces 20 of the shafts I l, the rollers 0r molds I6, during translation by the chains 4, will rotate at a speed less than if they were rolling on their axes I1. The liquid level 2'! of the substance 26 is at least even with the upper edge 28 of the container 25. Therefore, the rollers or molds I6 are in contact with the substance or viscose 26, and as the rollers pass across the substance 26 and in contacting relationship therewith, a film 29 of the substance will adhere to the exterior surfaces of the molds.

gears 55 mounted on their axles 58.

The rails 2| are raised as indicated at 30, Fig. 2, to raise the rollers it off their peripheral surfaces l9 and reposition the rollers with their axes I! supported on the rails 22. The molds being so supported, therefore, rotate at a more rapid speed and cause the film to be equally distributed about the outer surfaces of the rollers as they pass to a coagulating bath 3! in the tank 32. If desired, the film .29 may be coated with a pigment immediately before therollers reach the bath 3 I. If the film is to be coated with a pigment, it is desirable that the rollers be rotated at a relatively rapid speed as they pass the pigment hopper 33 to have pigment 34, such as mica, sprinkled or dusted thereon to provide a pigmentized-coated surface 35, the hopper being agitatedby means, not shown, to sift mica through the screen bottom 36. Additional rotary impetus may be given the rollers by cutting away the rails 22 as indicated at 31 and allowing the shafts I! of the rollerstorest upon driven belts 38 on the pulleys 39 and 48, and by the engagement of a driven roller 4|. The additional speed given the rollersinsures the powdered pigment being equally distributed about the entire exterior surface of the film 29. The rollers or molds 15 are then translated to the 'bath'3l and as they reach the bath'3l, they roll downwardly over the surfaces 42 of the belts '38 about the pulleys 39 which causes still greater rotary speed to be'given the rollers and, therefore, causes practically instant coagulation of the film on the rollers to provide regenerated tubes "43.

'The tubesare kept rolling in the bath in the tank 32 a predeterminedlength of time and then carriedby the chains in a reverse direction and rotated in a solution in the tank 44 where the filmed tubes 43 are further coagulated. The rollers are again reversely translated through a regenerating solution in a tank 44' and the tubes are .ready to be removed or stripped from the rollers. Where the chains pass over the pulleys,

suitable guides 45 are provided to keep the roller molds It in proper position to be guided by .the

- chains and translated along the rails. The solutions and the chemicals used therein for coagulatingand regenerating the viscose into hydrated cellulose are well known and the properties thereof will vnotbe described.

The means for stripping the tubes from the rollers comprises a plurality of lower .and upper rollers 48 and 41 each having a v-shaped periphery 48. The rollers 46 areiixedly mounted on a base "49 and carry gearsl50 mounted on their axles 5|. A drive shaft 52 carries gears 53, Fig. 7, whichmesh with the gears 50. The rollers 4'! are carriedjby a vertically movable head 54 and have A shaft 51 carries gears .58 which mesh with-the gears 55. The shafts 52 and 51 carry pulleys 59 and 60 respectively which are driven by a flexible belt '8! from apulley '62 mounted on the cross shaft 53. The cross shaft 83 is. driven by a belt 84 having ,roperable relationship witha driven memher, not shown. The .head 54 carrying the Driven chains "65 carry. spaced alined receiving lugs'fifi and are. arranged in juxtaposition relative to the chains 4 so that afterthe rollers l5 leave the final bath 45, the axes .l'l of the molds I 5 willlbeengaged by the fingers andcarried by the chains '65 anddeposited in the V-shaped periphried by an arm 8! connected to the lever .8 l ,same arm 81 carries the means 88 for moving the eral grooves in the lower rollers 46 and in the V-shaped lower clamping jaw 51. After each roller l5 carrying the cellulose tubes 43 is deposited on the rollers 46 and the clamping member 87, the head 54 Will move downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 into engagement with the mold as shown in Fig. 6, the film to be engaged between the rollers 48 and 41 and the roller to become impinged between the lower jaw 51 and the upper jaw 68 which is rigidly mounted on the head 54. The roller or mold I6 -is thus prevented from being rotated and as the rollers .45 rotate in a direction opposite to the rollers '47, the film will be pulled or stripped from the mold. The head 54 moves vertically and is timedto drop into position when a filmed roller is deposited in position on the lower rollers, and

the normallyinoperative rollers 46 and 41 are periodically rotated, rotation of the rollers occurring intermittently in timed relationship with the head .54.

The head 54 is .carriedby guide rods 69 which have free slidable movement through the cross frame supporting members 3. Slide members 10 are fixed to the head 54 and operated through guideways or blocks H. The upper ends of the members 10 are connected to bars 12 as indicated ati'l3, Fig. '8. The bars 12 are pivoted to a part of the frame as indicated at Hand carry rollers 15 which engage vcam members 16. The cam members 'Hiare fixed to a transverse shaft 11 which has fixed thereto a sprocket l8 driven by a chain 1'9. Thus, during rotation of the shaft 11, the cam members 16 will raise and lower the arms 72, and inasmuch as the members Til are fixed to the arms E2, the head 54 will be periodically or intermittently raised andlowered.

As it is desirable that the rollers 45 and 41 rotate only when the tubes 43 are tobe stripped, a clutch 80, Fig. 8, is interposed in the shaft 63. The clutch is operated by a pivoted lever 8 I which carries a roller 82 engaging a cam 83 on the drive sprocket 18, a spring 84* being connected to the lever BI to hold the wheel 82 against the cam 83. Therefore, upon rotation of the sprocket 18, the clutch is engaged and disengaged causing rotation and non-rotation of the shaft 63, as desired.

The shaft 63 also carries a friction wheel 85 against whicha brake shoe 86 engages when the clutch is disengaged. The brake shoe 86 is car- This clutch 80 into and out of engagement. During rotation of the sprocket 18, the earns 15 will caus the head 54 to be intermittently raised and lowered, and as the wheel 82 is in engagement with the cam 83, the lever 8| will be moved horizontally to engage and disengage the clutch 83. When the clutch 88 is in engagement, the lever .will,be-toward the left, as shown in Fig. 8, and

the brake shoe 86 will be out of frictional engagement with the wheel 85. When the cam roller 82 engages the low spot 83 of the cam, the spring 84 will pull the lever 8| to the right, disengage the clutch 85 and move the brake shoe '88 into engagement with the wheel 85. The lowering of the head 54 occurs when a roller mold I6 is deposited in the'V-sha-ped grooves of the rollers 46 and the jaw 81, causing the upper rollers 4'! to engage'the tubes 43 and the upper jaw 68 to engage the lower molds it. At this time the clutch 3!! willsbe inengagement and cause rotation of the pulleys 52 which drives the belt 8] for rotating the rollers 45 and 41. The rotation of the'rollers 46 and 41 causes the tubes 43 to be stripped from the molds.

After the tubes 43 have been stripped from the molds, the head 54 will return to upward normal position and the rollers 46 and 4'lwill cease rotating. The molds iii are then free and will become engaged by the projecting fingers 90, Fig. 6, on rotary wheels 9! which are synchronously timed with respect to the other mechanism. The fingers will engage the shafts ll of each roller and deposit each roller in a guide 92 where the molds will roll against retarding stops 93 and become engaged by the lugs 66 on the chain 65. The lugs 66 move the molds from the pivoted retarding stops 93 and deposit them against the pivoted retarding stops 94 where they will again be engaged by the chains 4 and return to complete another cycle of operation.

After the molds have been removed from the retarding stops 94 and engaged by the chains 4, they will be carried by the chains 4 through the tanks 95 and washed. The molds are then carried through a drying chamber 96 after which time they are again carried by the chains 4 to the filming tank 25.

Operation Roller molds l6 are carried by continuously operated chains 4 and pass over a tank 25 where they are filmed with substance 26. The rollers, after being filmed with the substance, may have a pigment sprayed thereon and then passed through successive coagulating and regenerating baths. After the film on the rollers is regenerated to provide cellulose tubes 43, the roller molds carrying the tubes are deposited on non-rotating rollers 46 and a clamping jaw 61. As soon as the mold is in position, the head 54 will move downwardly and cause the mold to be impinged between the lower jaw 61 and the upper jaw 68 and the film or tube 43 can be engaged by the rollers 46 and 41. As soon as this engagement occurs, the clutch 80 will operate and cause the rollers 46 and 41 to rotate in opposite directions and strip the tube 43 from each roller as they successively pass to stripping position. When the tube is stripped, the head 54 will return to upward normal position and rotation'of the rollers 46 and 41 will cease. The fingers 96 on the wheel 9| will then remove the mold is from the lower rollers 46 and the lower jaw 61 and carry the stripped mold to a predetermined position where the lugs 61 will carry it to a position to be again engaged by the chains 4. The molds will then be washed by passing them through the tanks 95 and then dried by passing them through a drying chamber 96. The cycle of operation is then completed and the molds are ready to be refilmed.

The tubes 43 are then cut into proper lengths to provide hydrated bands 91, Fig. 11. The hydrated bands 9'! are then slipped over the end of a container, such as a bottle 98, and permitted to become dehydrated. The band, when dehydrated in position on the container, provides a sealing element 99 to seal the neck of the bottle and the bottle closure cap 199.

The invention provides an apparatus for making hydrated cellulose bands for ornamenting and sealing containers. The apparatusprovides for continuously moving rollers throughout certain steps of the operation to first film the rollers and then regenerate the film on the rollers to provide cellulose tubes. The regenerated tubes are stripped from the rollers and the rollers are washed and returned to feeding position. The apparatus has its various parts properly synchronized so that the manufacture of the articles may be continuous and uninterrupted. While the apparatus has been described for making cellulose bands or seals, it is, of course, understood that other articles may also be made, for instance, the substance 26 in the tank 25 may contain a gelatinous substance, such as gelatin, in which case the coagulating tanks 32, 44 and 45 are dispensed with and a temperature controlled compartment, not shown, is substituted.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. An apparatus for making sealing bands comprising a plurality of translating molds, a body of viscous substance, a holder therefor, means for rotatively passing the molds over the surface of the viscous substance to be coated with a film of the substance, while translating the molds across the surface in a straight line, and means for increasing the speed of rotation of the molds after they have contacted the substance.

2. An apparatus of the type described comprising constantly movable chains, molds translated by said chains, means for rotating the molds across the surface of the substance to be coated with the substance while being translated, means for regenerating the substance on the molds to form tubes, means for holding the molds stationary and stripping the tubes therefrom, means for removing the molds from the chains while being stripped, and means for moving the molds to position on the chains to be again translated.

3. An apparatus of the type described comprising constantly movable chains, molds translated by said chains, means for rotating the molds across the surface of the substance to be coated with the substance while being translated, means for regenerating the substance on the molds to form tubes, means for holding the molds stationary and stripping the tubes therefrom, means for removing the molds from the chains while being stripped, means for returning the molds to position on the chains after the molds are stripped, means for washing the molds 5.

on the chains, and means for drying the mold after being-washed.

4. Stripping means comprising a plurality of circular members each having a gripping surface formed circumferentially thereon, means for receiving molds, said molds being partially coated with a film, clamping means movable toward said last-named means for clampingly engaging and holding the molds, means for rotating said circular members with their gripping surfaces against the film on the molds so as to translate the film along the molds and to strip said film therefrom. a

5. Stripping means comprising a plurality of circular members each having a gripping surface formed circumferentially therearound, clamping means for receiving molds and clampingly engag ing said molds, said molds being partially coated with a film, said clamping means engaging only one end of the molds at a point between the end of the molds and the beginning of the film thereon, means for moving some of the circular members downwardly to bring their gripping surfaces into contact with the film on the molds, means to move others of said circular members upwardly to bring their gripping surfaces'into contact with the molds, means for rotating said circular members in correspondingly opposite directions to translate the film along the molds away from the clamped end so as to deliver the film off the free end of the molds.

6, In an apparatus of the character described, a stripping device comprising means for receiving molds, said molds being partially coated with a film, means for clamping said molds, said last named means engaging only one end of the molds at a point between the end thereof and the beginning of the film thereon, a plurality of circular means, each of said circular means having a V- shaped groove extending circumferentially around the rim thereof, means for moving said circular means so as to bring the grooves thereon into contact with the film on the molds at points on correspondingly opposite sides thereof, and means for rotating said circular means so that the film is urged away from the clamped end of the molds and ofi at the free end of the molds.

'7. An apparatus for making open-ended regenerated cellulose cylinders comprising a plurality of cylindrical molds of. predetermined length, means for moving the molds in a continuous predetermined path, said path including straightline movement, and container means for holding a regenerable solution of cellulose, said container being positioned with respect to the predetermined path of the molds so that each mold passes over the container in a straight line and with the mold surface substantially flush with the top edge of the container.

8. An apparatus for making open-ended regenerated cellulose cylinders comprising a plurality of cylindrical molds of predetermined length, means for moving the molds in a continuous predetermined path, said path including straightline movement, and container means for holding a regenerable solution of cellulose, said container being positioned with respect to the predetermined path of the molds so that each mold passes over the container in a straight line and with the mold surface substantially fiush with the top edge of the container, said container furthermore being narrower in width than the length of the molds.

9. An apparatus for making open-ended regenerated cellulose cylinders comprising a plurality of cylindrical molds of predetermined length, means for moving the molds in a continuous predetermined path, said path including straight-line movement, container means for holding a regenerable solution of cellulose, said container being positioned with respect to the predetermined path of the molds so that each mold passes over the container in a straight line and with the mold surface substantially flush with the top edge of the container, said container furthermore being narrower in width than the length of the molds, container means for holding a regenerated bath, said container being wider than the length of the molds, and means associated therewith for causing the molds to dip down into' a position of partial immersion in said bath.

10. An apparatus for making open-ended regenerated cellulose cylinders comprising a plurality of cylindrical molds of predetermined length, means for moving the molds in a continuous predetermined path, said path including straight-line movement, container means for holding a regenerable solution of cellulose, said container being positioned with respect to the predetermined path of the molds so that each mold passes over the container in a straight line and with the mold surface substantially flush with the top edge of the container, said container furthermore being narrower in width than the length of the molds, container means for holding a regenerated bath, said container being wider than the length of the molds, means associated therewith for causing the molds to dip down into a position of partial immersion in said bath, means for translating the molds horizontally through the last named container, and means for causing the molds to rotate during translation therethrough.

11. An apparatus for making container seals comprising a plurality of spaced molds, means for continuously translating the molds along a predetermined path, in at least one portion of which said molds travel in a substantially straight line, means for rotating said molds, and means for rotating the molds at different speeds at predetermined intervals while translating the molds in said substantially straight line.

12. An apparatus for making container seals comprising a plurality of spaced molds, means for continuously translating the molds along a predetermined, path, in at least one portion of which said molds travel in a substantially straight line, means for rotating said molds, means for rotating the molds at different speeds at predetermined intervals while translating the molds in said substantially straight line, and means for preventing individual rotation of the molds when a mold moves to a predetermined position.

13. An apparatus for making container seals comprising a plurality of spaced molds, means for continuously translating the molds along a predetermined path, in at least one portion of which said molds travel in a substantially straight line, means for rotating said molds, means for rotating the molds at different speeds at prede termined intervals while translating the molds in said substantially straight line, and means for preventing translation and rotation of a mold when the mold reaches a predetermined position.

14. An apparatus for making container seals comprising a plurality of spaced molds, means for continuously translating the molds along a predetermined path, including a substantially straight line path, means for rotating said molds, means for rotating the molds at difierent speeds at predetermined intervals while translating the molds in the substantially straight line path, means for preventing translation and rotation of a mold when the mold reaches a predetermined position, and rotary means engaging the mold and rotating about an axis at an angle to the axis of the mold for stripping the mold.

15. An apparatus for making container seals comprising a plurality of spaced molds, means for continuously translating the molds along a predetermined path, including a substantially straight line path, means for rotating said molds, means for rotating the molds at different speeds at predetermined intervals while translating the molds in the substantially straight line path, means for preventing translation and rotation of a mold when the mold reaches a predetermined position, and means for moving the mold to position to be again translated.

2,os1,52s 5 16. An apparatus for making sealing bands and the like comprising a plurality of translating molds, means for conveying the molds in a predetermined path, a body of viscous substance adjacent the path and adapted to be hardened or coagulated by chemical or physical means, means to rotatively pass the molds over the surface of said substance to be coated with the film of the substance, regenerating means adjacent said path and adapted to contact said film, and means for stripping the tubes longitudinally of the molds.

JOSEPH C.- FORD. JOHN EINAR OLSON. 

